Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves has asked for Senate Pro Tempore Terry Burton’s resignation. This comes after Burton was arrested and charged with a DUI after a single car crash near Starkville in Oktibbeha County back in December 2018.
“The Pro Tem in the Mississippi Senate is actually elected by the 52 members and so it is the 52 members who have the ability to remove him if they choose to do so,” Reeves said. “I think that as we move into next week that is something that we look at, and we will see what decisions are made by the Pro Tem himself.”
RELATED: Senate Pro Tempore Burton charged with DUI
Reeves said he asked Burton to resign his leadership position “several weeks ago”. The arrest was Burton’s 3rd DUI offense since 2014 and he reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .14. The legal limit in Mississippi is .08. Reeves said a decision on the matter will be made during the first week of the 2019 legislative session which begins on January 8th, 2019.
